1/31/15 - Day 31 - Crazyness

I wish I could say that this is a rare occurrence.

1/30/15 - Day 30 - Spelling Bee

As one of the top 5 spellers in the 2nd grade, Nathan got to compete in the school Spelling Bee.  There was much fun and excitement getting ready for this event.  I was so disappointed that I couldn't be there...but Daddy was there to represent (and take the photos). 

Nathan was 8th out....he missed the word "await".....well, sort of.  He knew he had misspelled it instantly, but alas, it was too late and they wouldn't allow him to spell the word again.  Oh well, he had fun and did awesome!

1/29/15 - Bedtime Story

Daddy was home late tonight so I got the job of reading Nathan his bedtime story.  The 7 yr old Nathan really loves the Goosbumps series right now.  Even though he can read faster than me, he still loves to be read to.  He doesn't even mind that Mommy doesn't do the silly voices like Daddy does.

1/28/15 - Day 28 - Starlight Box

I saw this idea a long time ago on Pintrest.  Really this should be done with a larger box so you can have a real fort, but I worked with what I had.  I got the Christmas lights out of storage and poked them through the top of the box.  It's certainly cute. 

1/27/15 - Day 27 - Droopy

Poor Nathan has been enduring this cold for a long time now.  We suspect allergies, last year his eyes itched for months, we tried so many different eyedrops and nothing really worked, so we're off to the Doctor today to get something prescribed.

He looks so incredibly different with his eyes like this.  I told him he reminded me of Droopy, so we spent the morning watching old Droopy cartoons.

Nathan pretending to be sad.

1/26/15 - Day 26 - Official 3 Yr Old Photos

I usually like to do this on my boy's actual birthday, but yesterday was just way too crazy, there just wasn't any time to do it, so I put it of until today. 

This was the first time I've taken James to my favorite spot.  I took Nathan to this exact same location for his 3rd birthday photographs years ago.  I promise the number of pictures I share will decrease again soon. It's just....how can I be expected to choose just one of these????

James had so much fun playing peekaboo with me in the old cabin here.  I have some great peekaboo pictures of Nathan from this spot as well, it's great, each one really captures their specific personality.  This is so very James!

More Peekaboo.

James was definitely there to play.  He looked at the camera now and again, but as far as he was concerned the real purpose of the day was the climbing, throwing rocks, getting dirty, and playing.

I guess I must have known there was a river here, but somehow I never thought to explore it.  There is a lovely little green grassy bank down to a river.  The river itself wasn't so picturesque, but James refused to remain on the grassy bank.  He had to throw rocks and sticks into the river.

The trick to getting James to smile is to ask him if he likes stinky poopy. Now you know.

By the end, James was a really good sport about having his picture taken.  He'd run, sit, I'd take a picture, then he'd run to me and hug me HARD, then run back...over and over.  I got so many cute shots while he was doing that.  He thought it was the funniest game ever and loved looking at the pictures.

1/25/15 - Day 25 - Happy 3rd Birthday James!!!

James made it to 3 yrs old.  Or more accurately, James's Mommy survived James being 2. Nathan was a delightful 2 yr old....James....well, not so much.  I've definitely discovered that they call them the terrible twos for a reason. I've been over sharing photos lately, but you'll just have to allow one more too many photos post. James was super cute today!

James first successful candle blow out.

This look is very "James".

1/24/15 - Day 24 - Nightime Stroll

Rich proposed that we all go out for a walk this evening after dinner.  I was worried about walking around with the boys in the dark, but Rich insisted it would be fine and I agreed....begrudgingly. The kids brought their flashlights and had the best time.  James spent the majority of the time searching for sticks to pick up and Nathan spent the entire time dreaming up pretend scenarios of treasure hunts and monsters.  I spent the time trying to take nightime outdoor photographs...which I freely admit I'm not so great at! Rich spent the time being Super Daddy.

Here are my favorite captures from tonight.

I kept having Rich stop and "show the kids something" so that they would stand still enough for me to be able to take a picture. Night time photography is HARD!

Hey James, look at this flower. *snap snap snap snap*

James saw the moon and started singing "Moon Moon Moon" to it.  This had to be my favorite part of our time out. So sweet!

Found Orion and pointed it out to Nathan. Can't believe we were able to pick it out of the usually too bright Los Angeles sky.

Almost home and very tired.

1/23/15 - Breathless

Poor Nathan has had a cold for weeks and weeks.  It has mainly been sniffles and a cough, but tonight he woke up in the middle of the night complaining that he couldn't breathe.  This happens with a cold from time to time with our boys so we luckily always seem to have some albuterol on hand.  Nathan passes the time by playing his current favorite game in the iPhone, "Singing Monsters".  Dooo wop, do doooo wop, dooooo wop, doooo do do do do do doooooo.......

That song will stick in your head for hours.  Luckily, breathing treatment worked great and he was off to bed happy as can be and I got today's picture out of the way super duper early. :)

1/22/15 - Day 22 - Faux Ice Cream

I started making homemade whipped cream some time ago and I just adore the stuff.  A few weeks ago I had the genius idea to give the whipped cream to James as a melt free ice cream cone.  He's constantly begging for ice cream cones and I'm constantly worried that his ice cream cones will be used mainly to decorate the carpet.  So, faux ice cream to the rescue.  Seriously, put a few sprinkles on it and the kids don't care that it's not ice cold and melty.

1/21/15 - Day 21 - Post Pick-up Park Play

I don't work on Wednesdays which means that I get to pick up Nathan right when school lets out. It's nice to not have to rush home and get Nathan finishing his homework as I scramble to make dinner.  Some days I even feel like we have enough time for a quick trip to the park.  Today was one of those days.  The boys play so cute together and just have the best time. A few selects from today's park excursion.

1/20/15 - Day 20 - Time Out

Our sweet (ahem) James is a screamer.  He spends a lot of good quality time in time out "thinking about" his choice to scream at the top of his lungs every time his mother tells him "no".  ***It's a delightful trait*** (please note the sarcasm text).  Not long ago someone gave me the beautiful idea to have James sing a song or count to 20 before he can leave time out.  This is a stroke of genius!  If he can control himself enough to sing the ABC's, he's okay enough to join the real world.  Luckily James's prison sentence is never very long. Plus, at the end of every session I get to hear the lovliest rendition of the ABCs. 

1/19/15 - Day 19 - Waste Not

We have had half empty boxes of Rice Krispy's and Fruity Pebbles in our pantry for several months now.  This morning Rich suggested that maybe it was time to throw those boxes out as clearly nobody was going to eat them.  WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY!?!?!   Add marshmallows and a little butter and those are Rice Krispy Fruity Pebbles Treats.


Yum!

1/18/15 - Day 18 - Bathtime

Boy was it hard to choose a photo for this one....this one was Nathan's pick.  I decided to take a photo during James's bath time tonight.  He's still young enough for that.  James LOVES bath-time.  Tonight he was so cute and singing at the top of his lungs.  In this photo, try to imagine him singing "the cold never bothered me anyway".  There are a few videos too.  Think I'll attach the short 18 second one. 

 

 

1/17/15 - Day 17 - Glider Bike

This glider bike is a hand me down from Nathan.  This little thing was how Nathan learned to ride a bike.  James doesn't love it yet, but he will.  Can't wait 'til he's zipping all around on this thing....as far away from his Mommy as his little wheels can carry him.... On second thought......

1/16/15 - Day 16 - Over the Top

I can't remember what prompted it, but I decided I'd like to arm wrestle Nathan.  I won't show you the embarrassing picture of me losing to a 7 year old (hey....I have an injured shoulder!!!)  But here's the 7 year old rightfully and gleefully losing to his daddy.

1/15/15 - Day 15 - Take Charge Kinda Guy

That's my James.  Nobody ever asked James to put his dirty dishes on the counter.  He just started doing it one day.  This is the power of learning from your older brother.  It was really a struggle to get Nathan to learn to clear his dishes from the table (still is at times), but James rarely forgets.  He's learning not to spill.

James is like this for pretty much everything...he doesn't ask you if he can do things, he informs you that he's going to do them (if you're lucky).  If he gets it in his mind to do something he just makes it happen.  If you get in his way, you're going to hear about it.